A more subtle shift light (with pics)

stockstandard · 16-06-2005, 07:36 PM

I wanted a shift light in the EF, but I hate the look of monster tacho's/shift lights hanging of the A-piller or steering column. I wanted something that would look like a factory installed item. This is what I cam up with - A jaycar frequency switch hooked up to a 8000cmd LED mounted in the instrument cluster. All up the parts cost $40 and took 2 hours to install.

Here is the warning light filter I mounted the LED on. Uses a 5mm LED holder to make it all nice a neat.

The filter monted in the instrument cliuster from front and back

The electronics (to be mounted under the dash). Ignition on power and ground are taken from the stereo and the tacho feed from the diagnostic port.

The cluster installed back in the car...

Shift light working - damm bright little LED!

EFFalcon · 16-06-2005, 07:42 PM

Good stuff

certainly is effective

Casper · 16-06-2005, 07:43 PM

Thats the best and most factory looking shiftlight setup I've ever soon. Top marks! Can you do it to an AU dash???

:

LUXO_8 · 16-06-2005, 07:50 PM

looks sweet as mate...

pepsimax · 16-06-2005, 08:04 PM

i'm not really one for things like that but that is the best one i have seen,,very practical and doesn't stand out like elephant nuts,,very well done

FPVWEPN · 16-06-2005, 08:09 PM

how do you adjust its rpm shift point?

jabba · 16-06-2005, 08:13 PM

Thats the best shift light I have seen yet. I agrea with you on those Mr Magoo tacho's, they look sh!t house.

stockstandard · 16-06-2005, 08:30 PM

Thanks for the comments guys.

I was never into shift lights until I went to the drags and realised how important it is to change gear at the right RPM. I hit the 6000rpm limiter on two runs. Hopefully the shift light will help me get more consistancy next time out.

The switch point is adjusted by turning a POT on the circuit board. If you are going to change shift points often it would be a pain (depending on where I end up mounting the board) but is easy enough to do every now and then.

And yeah - it can be done to any dash - as long as you can find a place to mount the LED.

Walkinshaw · 16-06-2005, 08:46 PM

Awsome work there Mark, i must get one. Oh hang on, Auto, thats right!!

Combine this with a 3.91:1 LSD mate and your times will tumble!

mcflux · 16-06-2005, 09:05 PM

Love ya shift point (2500rpm), and that's an awesome mod mate, well done!

-Dave-

neb · 16-06-2005, 09:10 PM

thats very nice... tempting to do it myself now

XR351 · 16-06-2005, 09:36 PM

Top Work bloke. I was planning a very simular idea for my '67 XR. Hate those big monster tacho things. Yer, ya might wanna more that POT upto say 5500rpm. 10/10

stockstandard · 16-06-2005, 10:05 PM

lol - Yeah, Im going to set the shift point at 5500 (max hp is at 5200). I set it low cos I'm ****ing the neighbours off reving the car in the driveway while making sure it is all working. Ill take it for a drive somewhere more isolated tomorrow and set the rpm properly.

TURBO_GHIA · 17-06-2005, 12:36 AM

what does it turn out like in the day time ??

DOC · 17-06-2005, 01:18 AM

Very Clever i wished i had that abaility, would love to catch you up some to look at it more.

LTDHO · 17-06-2005, 08:52 AM

Mate that's neat.

Is it bright during the day.

EA2BA · 17-06-2005, 09:19 AM

Very nice setup, love the electronics module just like mine for the BBM

I suggest you take a voltage reading as per the instructions then double it (higher voltage = higher RPM activation) will get you close to 5,000 rpm to start with that way.

Also can we get get some good day shots of the light, I have friend wanting something similar.

stockstandard · 17-06-2005, 04:30 PM

Here are some daytime pics. I did the best to show what it is like but it is kinda hard to do with the camera

First - normal light shot

and the worst case - looking into the sun

Its not the slap in the face you get at night (it is way too bright at night) but it is still hard to miss. With these LED's all the light is focused in a 20% beam so the instrument cluster is the perfect place to get you right in the eyes.

stockstandard · 17-06-2005, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dellboy999

Very nice setup, love the electronics module just like mine for the BBM

thats where I got the idea from

EA2BA · 17-06-2005, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stockstandard

thats where I got the idea from

aww shucks :1syellow1

What is the MCD value of the LED you used?

stockstandard · 17-06-2005, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dellboy999

aww shucks :1syellow1

What is the MCD value of the LED you used?

8000mcd, 4V, 30mA. DSE Z-3982

EA2BA · 17-06-2005, 05:01 PM

So the 13,000-15,000mcd white LED i am going to install will stand out then

stockstandard · 17-06-2005, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dellboy999

So the 13,000-15,000mcd white LED i am going to install will stand out then

oh yeah, that would be awsome for day but would blind you at night.

I am thinking about hooking up some sort of audio cue to the second relay output as well - maybe a little voice that goes "weeeeeeeee"

4.9 EF Futura · 17-06-2005, 05:26 PM

That's one of the neatest mods ive ever seen for the EF. Great job, thinking outside the square!! If i didnt have an auto i'd be leaving work to go rig one up now!!

TUFED6 · 17-06-2005, 08:27 PM

Why don't you hook into the instrument cluster backlight circuit and run a different LED when the headlights are on. Then you can have it bright during the day and a dimmer one at night.

- John

damo03 · 17-06-2005, 11:43 PM

Congrats mate.

That's a very neat job you have done there....zero try hard factor!

Perhaps to make it easier to adjust the shift trigger point, desolder the pot from the circuit board and use some light gauge speaker wire to extend the pot and resolder it to the other end of the speaker wire and mount it descretly underneath the dash. It will save you having to pull apart the dash everytime you want to adjust it and make it easier to have it set for drags, cruises etc.

Another idea is to get rid of the pot, but use a multimeter to calculate the resistances on the pot for shifts you want (eg 5000rpm, 4500, 5500 etc)
and then replace with resistors and 1 variable resistor (pot) connected to a rotary pole switch. This would allow you to set the shift light to certain preset points and still have the variable resistor!

You could also put a variable resistor incircuit with the led and adjust the voltage so the intensity is not too bright, or put a optical sensor which sends high or low resistance (depending what type you get) in circuit to dim the led when it's dark.

Go hard.

Damo

**Polyal** · 18-06-2005, 06:09 PM

Yeah thats very impressive. But without being a smartarse, its not like you really need to look so hard at where you are going at the drags; so you should know when to shift anyway.

Dont get me wrong its a thousand timers better than anything else going around, but is it really going to change yuor times? Its cool for sure; but ive never understood why people "need" them in a street car.

Still, top marks for creativity.

EFFalcon · 18-06-2005, 06:15 PM

a light blinding u is going to be a lot easier to react to then a needle flying around a guage.

Twisted · 18-06-2005, 06:47 PM

Very nice setup mate, would mind one for the T!

Dezza · 18-06-2005, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUFED6

Why don't you hook into the instrument cluster backlight circuit and run a different LED when the headlights are on. Then you can have it bright during the day and a dimmer one at night.

- John

There has to be a way to dim it when lights are on. I know that when the lights are on in the Ghia, the digital speedo dims, so there must be a way to set the LED up in a similar fashion.